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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Between Two Lives 



A Drama of the Passing of the Old 

and the Coming of the New 

in Rural Life 



By 
CHARLES WILLIAM BURKETT 

Editor of American Agriculturist 



1914 

ORANGE JUDD COMPANY 

NEW YORK 






Copyright 1914 

BY 

ORANGE JUDD COMPANY 



APR -2 [914 



Printed in U. S. A. 



(g'CI,A3 7l39 7 



NOTES TO THE PERFORMERS 



In acting a play, words are only a part. What is 
equally important is action. Each part must be thor- 
oughly studied, committed to memory and then acted. 
Don't be stiff. Move about on the stage. Don't sit still ; 
don't stand in one place. If you do sit down, let it be 
just for a moment ; then rise and walk to some other 
part of the stage. Keep moving — move your hands, 
your feet, your eyes, your head. The point is, be 
doing something. Study your part and introduce just 
as many little "acting" features as you can think of. 
Sam, Rastus, Trueletta and Abagail must make the 
audience laugh ; they must furnish amusement. Each 
should "work up" little things for doing this. This is 
the "acting part," and each individual must initiate and 
originate little things of an "action" nature to go with 
the lines of the text. It is the same with every role 
of the play. The more original features thus intro- 
duced in connection with the speaking parts, together 
with lively action, gestures, changes in position on the 
stage, the brighter will be the play and the greater the 
interest in the parts and the persons impersonating 
them. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 



Henry Wilson, farraer of the old type. 

Sarah, his wife. 

Jack, their son. 

Betty, their daughter. 

Silas Watson, who loans money. 

Gertie Bowers, teacher of the district school. 

Will Jefferson, a city youth with good clothes. 

Trueletta, the colored girl who helps out. 

Rastus Washington Lincoln, colored hostler of 
Silas Watson. 

Sam Snipes, the hired man. 

Donald Brooks, son of a neighbor to the Wilson's, 
who loves Betty. 

Abagail Jones, who sees vileness in all men. 

Prison Guard. 



COSTUMES 

ACT I — Ordinary clothing, as is the custom of the 
community. Silas wears gingham shirt, straw hat, 
without coat or vest, suspenders, no necktie and 
either boots or shoes. Henry similar costume, 
but of different color. Jack wears ordinary walk- 
ing shoes, overalls, straw hat. The same for 

•: Donald. Gertie and Betty are in neat and clean 
dresses, color and style to suit. Trueletta in short 
dress, hair in pigtails, and face and hands colored 
rather dark. Rastus the same. Rastus wears 
pants too big for him and only one suspender. 
Abagail wears clothes not just fitting her. Her 
face should be rather thin, and "made up" to show 
oddity in appearance, dress and speech. 

ACT II — The stage setting is a modest room of work- 
ing people in a city. Donald and Jack wear plain 
clothes, sack coats, etc. Betty, Gertie, Abagail and 
Mrs. Wilson in keeping with the situation. Ras- 
tus should be dressed in starched linen or gingham 
clothes with high stiff collar, flaming red tie, odd- 
shaped shoes and hat. Let as much originality 
as possible enter into "rigging him" out. True- 
letta the same. 

ACT III— General prosperity is shown. All dressed 
in clean clothes. Sam in jeans. Donald and Jack 
in clean work clothes. The same motive in cos- 
tuming should prevail in this act as in the previous 
acts. A change of clothes may be made, suiting 
the wishes of the persons acting the parts.^ Let 
every change of costuming be plain and simple, 
but neat and clean, and planned in the spirit of a 
sensible, familiar country atmosphere. 

7 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 



ACT I 



Farmhouse. Combined living and dining room 
Door opens to rear in kitchen. Doors at left and right 
also. Furnishings consist of table, a few chairs, stove, 
if available, cupboard, clock and such other things as 
will give the general setting of an ordinary country 
home. 

(Act opens with Trueletta seen washing dishes 
through door opening into kitchen. She hums a negro 
chant or song. Rap on door causes her to come in the 
room on stage. She goes to the door and admits Silas 
Watson. Silas enters, looks around.) 

Silas Watson : Is Uncle Henry in? 

Trueletta: No sah. Just 'ou wait a bit. Ah 
sees if I kin find Mr. Wilson. He's round somewhare. 
You'se jist set deown and ah goes and hunts him. 
(Silas come in, takes a chair. Trueletta goes out.) 

Silas : Poor Hinry, I feel sorry for him. Wonder 
what that coon's doin' here. Never knowed Henry 
Wilson to hire a girl to help his wife. Oh, now I un- 
derstand ; his wife's sick. So he's got the black gal to 
cook till she get's on 'er feet again. Hinry kinder 
looks on wimmen folks as live stock. Thare's jist so 
much work in 'em and you're to git 't out. Course 
cows git sick, so why not wimmen, too. (Trueletta 
returns. ) 

Trueletta: He haint run of?. He's out to the 



lO BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

barn fixin' some harnesses. Says soon's he splices the 
traceries he'll be in. 

Silas : Well, I'll just step out thare. How's Mrs. 
Wilson? Sick? 

Trueletta : Sick ? Laws a Massa ! She ain't got 
no disease— just plain tired out. Her bone's full of 
misery from 'ard work, milkin', cookin', washin', bak- 
ing an' ev'ry tother kin' of work round this 'ere 
house. Golly me, I'se 'most broke mah back carryin' 
water way up from th' barn heah. Mens folks don't 
undastand how 'ard a woman works. If ah ever mar- 
ries I 'aint gwine to work mahself to death for no man. 
No, siree. {Shakes her head. Silas goes to the door.) 

Silas: Who's you goin' to marry, Trueletta? 

Trueletta : That nigger of yourn, who looks af 'er 
yure bosses, has axed me a hull dozen times. But ah 
won't have 'im if he bothers me 'ere. Ah'll 'it 'im on 
his cocoanut. 

Silas : Don*t you dare to hurt him. Uncle Henry's 
at the barn you say? (Silas leaves Trueletta at door, 
closing it at right.) 

Rastus: (At back through kitchen. Rastus enters 
with a large Rivet pie in his hand and month full. 
Trueletta sees him — looks mad. Rastus starts to laugh 
and chokes, explodes pie over the room.) 

Trueletta: You good-fur-nothin', black, lazy 
niggah! You ought to be in th' tenitentiary, where 
you'se belongs. Stealin' pies ! What's difference 
frum stealin' money? Git right out o' here! Git! 
(She throws a broom at him.) 

(Betty and Jack come in together.) 

Betty: Why, Trueletta, what does this mean? 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES II 

(Trueletta starts to explain. Jack pushes her to the 
kitchen. ) 

Jack : I won't stand it, Betty. I'm sick of every- 
thing. Just consider how hard we've worked. Slaved, 
that's what. What good does it do? We've a big 
farm, but he won't improve it, he won't get any up-to- 
date tools ; our cows are only scrubs. No wonder we 
can't make any money. There's that big swamp field — 
I told him I'd do the ditching if he'd only buy the tiles. 
Said he didn't believe in ditching. Just book stuff. Lot 
he knows about books. 

Betty: Remember, Jack, he's worked hard, too. 
He's kind and good in his way, but he simply doesn't 
see things like us. 

Jack: And never will. He did let us go through 
high school, but begrudged every day we went. I'm 
going to quit. There's no money in farming the 
way he farms, and he won't let me do things different. 
So what can I do? I'll teach school. I can do that. 

Betty : Oh, Jack ! I know how you feel, but don't 
get angry with father. He doesn't see things as you 
do. He's lost his grip. He's always worked hard and 
things have gone against him. 

Jack: That's it. He works with his hands, but 
not with his brains. I want to use my brains. He 
won't let me. What's brains for, anyway ? I showed 
him an article in American Agriculturist the other day. 
He just laughed in my face. Said farm paper editors 
didn't know anything. And yet that article told ex- 
actly how to drain that swamp field. Think of it, 
Betty. We haven't a decent book in the house. We 
never get a paper. We never get anything to read 
any more. Gertrude Bowers wants me to be a teacher. 



12 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Betty : So Gertie wants you to be a teacher. And 
you want Gertie. 

Jack: Yes, I do; but she won't have me. She's 
the best girl I ever saw. I'd be lucky to get her, but — 
And by the way, Betty, I don't want you to have any- 
thing to do with that city dude — that Will Jefferson, 
who's around here. I see you and him together a 
good deal. But don't do it. He's no good. Bud 
Griffith said he gambles and drinks and tells about how 
many girls he's got. Don't get silly over him, Betty. 

Betty: Here comes father and that old money 
lender, Silas Watson. I'll bet he's after more money. 
They're coming in. I'm going up to mother. Now, 
cheer up, Jack, everything will come round all right. 

{Enter Henry and Silas.) 

Henry: But, Silas, I haven't the money. I'm in 
debt now, as you know, so how can I buy more land? 

Silas : Oh ! that'll be all right. I don't want any 
money. I'll take your note and mortgage. Just give 
me $500 down to bind the bargain and you c'n pay the 
rest when you're good and ready. Why, hello. Jack! 

Henry : Jack, Mr. Watson here wants me to buy 
that 80 of his back of the farm. Kinder think I better 
do it. 

Jack: Why, I thought you hadn't any money. 

Henry: I haven't much, but Silas only wants a 
little down. 

Jack : A little down. The rest on mortgage. Why, 
father, we're mortgaged up to the neck now. What 
we want is not more land, but more improvements on 
what we've got. Mr. Watson, you want to sell your 
old farm — that old run-down piece which you fore- 
closed on young Miller. I tell you both we don't want 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 1 3 

it. Father, take $500 and buy some drain tile and get 
a man to help me and we'll drain the swamp field. 
There's a fortune in that 40-acre piece. When it's 
drained it will be worth $200 an acre. It will grow 
anything. 

Henry : Tut, tut, my son, you hain't got that book 
article out of yore mind yet. I don't believe in drain- 
in' land. D'ye hear? I ain't goin' to do it. You! 
What do you know about f armin' ? Know more'n me, 
do ye? I'll show what we'll do. Still want to sell, 
Silas? 

Jack : Do you mean, father, that you think of buy- 
ing that old run-down farm ? 

Henry: Course I do. 

Jack : Then I'll say my piece. You buy that land, 
when we need money for ditching, a few better cows 
that will help pay our debts, and papers and books to 
show us how to farm better, and I'll leave you. I've 
been obedient to you, worked hard, gone without 
things that other boys of my age have and stayed right 
by you, but if you buy more land — that ends it. I'll 
leave you and I'll leave the farm. 

Henry : You — you won't do no sich thing. 

Jack : Buy that land and I'm off forever. ( Turns 
and goes out.) 

Henry : That's what we gits for raising boys these 
days. I'll show him. Silas, let's go and take a look at 
that land. (They go out.) (Rastus creeps in.) 

Rastus: Wusen't that yaller gal mad, though? 
(Looks all around.) Wonder where she be now. 
(Looks in the kitchen.) Ah ! there she comes. (Hides 
behind the door. Trueletta comes in with pan of flour. 
Rastus slyly moves up, catches her around the waist 



14 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

and aims to kiss her. She throws the pan covering 
him with flour.) 

Trueletta : You miserable black nigger ! Why do 
you skeer me so bad? (She looks at Rastus covered 
with flour and laughs heartily.) 

Rastus: See, heah, Miss Niggah gal; who gives 
you permission to spile my clothes ? Why's you so dif- 
ferent from other gals ? Why's you punish me so dis- 
respectably? Why's you hurts my feelin's? Why's 
you so all-fired 'sposed to a leetle thrilly sensation? 
I've a mind to walk rite out o' dis house without say- 
in' 'nother word to your sniptuous self. 

' Sam (walks in with high boots, one suspender, 
overalls, straw hat) : He, he, he. Ho, Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha, 
Ha. Well, I declare! Beats anything ever I see. 
You's a sight, bof of you. You been a-fi'tin', that's a- 
what. Rastus, what's you'se been up to? (Rap at 
door.) Who's that? (To Rastus.) Stand still, 
don't you run. (Opens door. Enter Abagail Jones. 
Looks at party.) 

Abagail: What scandalous thing's goin' on here? 
Shame on you ! Two men 'posing on one girl. You 
brutes, you! I declare, every time I sees a man I 
wants to spit on him; I want to kick him; I want to 
pull his hair. Us poor women are pestered to death 
by sich as you men. You just stick around ; we never 
have no peace 'tall. You hear? Not a bit. If I had 
my way I'd wipe every man off the face of the earth. 

Sam : You mean me, too, Abagail ? 

Abagail : I do, indeed. And what* s more, I'd see 
none of you ever got back. 

Trueletta : Laws, Missus Abagail. Don't let the 
men worry you. Men's harmless. They's just babies. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 1 5 

You're got to teach 'em to know their places, like cats. 
Learn to use your fists and your feets. If wimmens 
would spunk up an' spoke out the mens would run 
and do it fast 'nough. I hain't 'fraid of no mans, no 
sir, I hain't. 

Abagail: I didn't come here to talk about such 
mean things as men. I came to see Mrs. Wilson. 
Heard she was sick. Can I see her, Trueletta? 
(Noise at side. Enter Donald. Sam leaves.) 

Abagail: Well, well, did you come just because 
you thought I'd be here ? 

Donald: Sure, I knew you were here. Where's 
Betty? Why, here's Betty now. (Betty enters.) 

Betty: How do you do, Donald? I've just come 
from mother. She's asleep now, but I think she's 
better. She's just worn out with all the harvest 
work and haying; she just had to go to bed for a rest. 
But sit down. (Trueletta and Rastus move to kitchen.) 
(Abagail and Donald move to Betty. Jack comes in 
and greets them.) 

Donald: Jack, you look all flustered up. What's 
the matter? 

Jack: Everything's the matter. I want to do 
things. I want to give my brain a chance to work. I 
see great opportunities to make this old farm respond 
to care and skill. But I can't do anything. Father 
won't let me. He won't let me help. He doesn't be- 
lieve in new things, in new ideas. Farming in the old 
way will no longer pay. Labor is too high, farm prices 
too low. This is a day of machines, of well-bred stock, 
drained land, improved seed. The air is full of them, 
and we stick to the old-fashioned ways of only hard 
work and little for it. 



1 6 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Donald: Remember the Fourth Commandment, 
Jack. Honor — 

Jack : Honor, shucks ! Don't I honor him ? Doesn't 
Betty honor him? And yet she, poor girl, works day 
in and day out just as hard as I do. Look at mother. 
Worn out and still a young woman. Who's to blame ? 
Everybody — you, Abagail (Abagail starts), father, the 
schools, the church. Work is your god. Your brains 
and souls are nothing. I want to study, to read, to 
experiment, to use my brains in running this farm. I 
want to improve it, build it up, make it better. I want 
to drain that waste land to pay off our debts. That's 
what I want to do. 

Abagail: What's comin' over you boys, anyway? 
Old folks ain't good enough for you young chaps. 
Their ways don't suit you. They got on all right 
when you was kids, but now that you're big enough to 
help you get mad 'cause your fathers won't turn the 
farms over to you young snips to play with. Grow- 
in' up boys certainly are exasperatin' things to have 
around. 

Jack: Look here, Abagail, you're just as bad as 
father. What has Mr. Brooks done for his own son ? 
Is he teaching him better methods — you don't know of 
any. He took Donald out of school so as to work 
him — work him just like a horse — just like he works 
his wife. Oh ! I'm sick of it — sick of the mean ways 
of treating women and girls and boys. 

Abagail: 'Pon my word. Jack, you are a fool — a 
bigger fool than I thought you were. {Betty and 
Donald go out.) 

Abagail: What a row! Shame on you, Jack! 

Jack: There she goes — another. Let a man im- 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 1 7 

pose on a woman, abuse her, work her down to the 
very bone, ill treat her and she'll still stand up for 
him; and especially when some one tells the truth to 
his face. Abagail, you're like all the rest. You are 
just like mother. 

Abagail : Jack, don't you dare say a word against 
your mother. She hasn't her equal anywhere in these 
parts. 

Jack: There you go again. Who's saying any- 
thing about mother? I'm rebelHng against custom, 
against injustice. There's mother. All her life she's 
worked and slaved. She's carried water to cook with, 
carried water ten thousand miles. And yet, with a 
little planning, we could have water right in the 
house. She's had to carry out of doors every bit of 
the dirty water ever used in this house. And yet a 
sink and drain to a septic tank might have been in- 
stalled at the cost of a single illness. She's washed all 
these dairy pans and crocks that would not be re- 
quired at all if we had some decent things for the 
dairy room. 

(Enter Gertie Bowers.) 

Abagail: Oh, hello. Miss Bowers! You're just in 
time. This young man is losing his mind. Never 
saw him in sich a fit. He's insultin' everybody. You 
take him in hand. I'm going out an' tell his father. 
Jack, you're a fool — do you hear, a great big fool. 

Gertie: What have you said, Jack? What have 
you done? 

Jack: I've done nothing. I am only protesting. 
I'm all upset. Disgusted with things. I want to 
scream. I want to yell. I want to kill. 



1 8 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Gertie: Gracious, don't kill me! What's upset 
you so? 

Jack: Father. He wants to buy more land. It 
seems we haven't work enough now to do. 

Gertie : Well, can't you talk him out of it ? 

Jack: Might as well talk to a goose. He won't 
listen. 

Gertie: What do you want to do? 

Jack : What do I want to do ? Make what we've 
got serve us better. Improve the acres that now be- 
long to us. Oh, Gertie, you believe in me, don't you ? 
I want to do right. I don't want to leave home, and 
I do want to change this old farm around somewhat. 
I want to improve — improve everything : the cows, the 
fields, the swamp land. I want a furnace under the 
house for decent heat, a bathroom for mother's and 
Betty's comfort, a water system for the washing and 
doing the kitchen work, and tending the dairy things. 

Gertie: Well, why don't you? 

Jack: I don't because I can't. Father won't let 
me. He gives me no money of my own. I am wors-e 
off than the hired man. I just work. I get my board 
and a room. I manage to get a little for clothes, but 
that's all. I want books, farm papers, things to do 
with. It isn't the cost. We could get the money, but 
he won't. He doesn't believe in such things. So I'm 
out of place. 

Gertie : Jack, dear friend Jack, I sympathize with 
you. What you say is the truth, and I have seen it. 

Jack: Oh, Gertie, how I do love you for those 
words! You're the only human being who ever 
showed a speck of protest against the folly of our way 
of living. Yes, I do love you. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES I9 

Gertie: Jack! Why do you say that? 

Jack : Just because I love you. Gertie, marry me. 
Will you, will you ? Oh, do say that you will ! 

Gertie : I can't, Jack. You're much to me. Since 
I've been here I have learned to like you. I admire 
you — your character, your manliness, your big unsel- 
fish self. But I've found out another thing, also. I 
see how the women here work and slave. Their joy 
and happiness is largely make-believe. They — 

Jack: But, Gertie — 

Gertie: Wait, Jack, let me finish. I like your 
folks and I like you. But I never want to be a farmer's 
wife. The life is hard; I couldn't stand it. I don't 
object to work, but I will not work 16 to 18 hours a 
day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. I'd simply 
love country life— love to be a farmer's wife— your 
wife. Jack, if things were different. But country 
people never seem to think the house is a home ; they 
make it a work mill— just work, work. They seem 
to think it a sin to be happy— to play a little. They 
take pride in never having things that other happy 
people have. 

Jack: But, Gertie, you are saying just what I be- 
lieve. Why — 

Gertie : I know it, I believe it. But what chance 
would there be with every other farm home against 
what I want ? It takes a community— everybody of the 
same mind — to get team work in happiness and 
progress. One wedded pair can't do it alone. Times 
are not ripe yet, Jack — not for us here. That's why I 
won't marry you. Don't urge me. What — I — say — 
ends — the— matter. (Jack goes out.) 



20 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Gertie (steps to kitchen) : You here, Trueletta? 

Trueletta (from door inside): Yessam! I'se 
here. 

Gertie: Where's Betty? 

Trueletta: Lawsy, I don't know. Seen her go 
out with Mistah Brooks, and just drive off with that 
city dude folks calls Jeffarson. 

Sam (enters) : Where's Jack? 

Gertie : He's just went out in the yard. 

(Henry, Donald and Ahagail enter,) 

Henry: Don't worry, Abagail! Boys ain't what 
they used to be. When I was a boy we did our work 
and listened to our elders. 

Abagail : That's right. Now these boys insist on 
doin' the bossing; and if you don't let 'em, they get 
mad and sulk. 

Donald : That's hardly fair, Mr. Wilson ; and it's 
hardly true. But we boys do think we ought to have 
a little consideration. Our suggestions ought to count 
as much as the hired men, but they don't. 

Abagail : Donald ! 

Henry: They're »all alike, Abagail. If there are 
bigger fools than our young men I never heard of 'em. 
(Jack comes in.) 

Abagail : Nor I neither. 

Jack : Here's the fruits of your work. It ends as 
I thought. You've driven her away. 

Henry: What's that; what's the fool talking 
about? 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 21 

Jack: This — read this. (Gives Henry a letter.) 

Henry (reads) : Dear Jack: Forgive me. I know 
what I am doing will break your heart. But I can't help 
it. I am tired of the farm, of the hard work. I long 
for a little pleasure, social good times, happiness. Mr. 
Jefferson (and I am sorry you didn't like him) is going 
to marry me as soon as we reach the city. Don't follow. 
I'm dying to have a little fun and a little brightness in 
my life. Father will be glad I'm gone, but be careful 
of mother. Your loving sister, Betty, 

Donald (grabs his hat as he runs out, exclaiming) : 
If I ever catch that scoundrel I'll kill him. Every- 
body take notice — I'll kill him ! 

Jack: Sam, did you see what road that striped 
skunk took? 

Sam : Yassir. He gone to de station. 

Jack : Hitch a horse to the buggy and come for me 
at once. 

(Enter Gertie, Rastus, Trueletta. Jack goes up- 
stairs.) 

Abagail: More meanness, I'll bet. And a man 
back of it. Depend for meanness on a man. Oh, 
how I'd like to shake one a minute ! 

(Rastus slips in the kitchen and comes out with big 
butcher's knife.) 

Henry : What you doin' with that ? 
Rastus : I'se gwine to fight. Jist let — 
Gertie (interrupting): Where's Donald? 

Rastus: I seen him goin' over th' fence and 
runnin' like blazin' down the road. I don't like that 
feller. He spit on me once. Jist let me cotch 'im ! 



22 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Gertie (to Henry) : Don't worry, the boys will 
bring Betty back. 

Jack (enters with a hand bag; changes coat and 
hat) : I saw mother. She's asleep. I kissed her 
forehead. She's an angel. I'm off. I've seen so 
much dreary existence, I leave it to you. (To Henry.) 
You have brought her nearly to her grave, you've 
driven Betty away to strangers and peril, you've 
opposed every idea I ever thought out, and now 
I'll bother you no more. Buy more land, widen your 
acres, cramp in your soul, drive off your children, but 
never blame Betty or me. What becomes of us — 
don't worry; if destruction, it's due to you; if all 
comes out well, take no credit to yourself. 

(Henry shows great anger. As Jack finishes, 
Henry knocks him dozmt. Blow made to sound real 
by clapping hands once. Jack gets up.) 

Jack (very calm and sweetly) : Good-by, father. 
You struck your son. For years you have pounded 
his soul, so that blow was not unexpected. I leave you 
in peace, with your acts and your conscience. Good- 
by, everybody. Gertie, good-by. I don't blame you 
for not wanting to be a farmer's wife. 

(Curtain.) 



ACT II 

Bill and Betty's home in the city. Living room 
modestly furnished. 

Trueletta (runs in from inner room excited) : 
My golly me! I'se skeered purty nigh to death. I 
jist can't go into that Mr. Jack's room wifout one of 
'em germanies gitten' after me. Ough! They're all 
over me. Gosh, I feels one now. {Scratches her 
head.) This house's jist overrun with kinds of things. 
When Missus Betty wrote me to come and work for 
her she never sed a wurd 'bout this here bein' a 
menagerie for all kinds of bugs and germanies, and 
bactaries. Ah don't like it 'ere no way. I wants to 
go back to Cobstown. I prefer roosters to college 
yaps, anyway. Gee, but ah'd like to see Rastus Wash- 
ington Lincoln ag'in ! The Missis says he's comin' up, 
bringin' up some of that 'ere swamp land that Mistah 
Jack's allers talkin' 'bout, for 'im to disanylize. He's 
huntin' more bugs, I guess. 

{Enter Rastus all dressed up in starch clothes. 
Trueletta drops dishes.) 

Trueletta: For de lub of heaven! Fse never 
seen sich an ubstreperous sight in my life. What's 
you doin' 'ere, anyway, nigger? 

Rastus: Trueletta— or mah name ain't Rastus 
Washington Lincoln. 

Trueletta {Rastus drops sack) : Git out wif that 
bag. What's you got in hit? 

Rastus: Sile, earth, ground, dirt, mud. 

Trueletta : Any germanies in it ? 

23 



24 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Rastus: What's them? Niggah, that's black 
swamp. That's that tarnation sile that druv Jack and 
Betty from 'ome, and braked old Mr. Wilson's 'eart. 
But, Trueletta, ain't you gwine to shake your old 
friend's 'and? (Trueletta goes up. Rastus grabs her 
and gives her a big smack kiss. They fight, separate 
and Rastus laughs heartily. Rastus runs out.) 

Betty (enters) : Why, Trueletta, what does this 
noise mean? 

Trueletta: Missus Betty, who is you think's 
here? My old trouble — that ornery, diabolical yeller 
nigger what's used to do hostler wurk for Silas Wat- 
son back in Cobstown. He's just came in and dropped 
that big sack. (Rasttis peeps in, afraid to enter, but 
all in smiles. Trueletta drags the sack out. Betty 
straightens things up a bit. Sees Rastus.) 

Betty: I declare, there's my old friend. Rastus, 
come right in here. (Rastus enters. Betty sits.) 
How do you do, Rastus. Now, sir, tell me where did 
you come from. 

Rastus: You looks so fine, I can't speechify. I 
can't find my bref. It's all gone in my feets. 

Betty: How's father and mother? 

Rastus: Poorly, Missus Betty, mighty poorly. 
The old place ain't the same no more. They's missed 
you, Betty — you'se and Mr. Jack and Mr. Donald. 
So'd iverybody miss you. Gee (smiles all over), but 
you'se looks fine ! I can't tek my eyes off you. (Now 
very seriously.) And, Missus Betty, ah missed you, 
too. 

Betty: Come out in the kitchen. I want you to 
tell me about everybody at home. (They go out. 
Trueletta enters. Straightens the table.) 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 2$ 

Trueletta: Ah won't say so to 'im, but I'se never 
so glad to see a body as that old niggah. That smack 
he gives me certainly wus sweet. I wouldn't tells him, 
though. Nevah tell a hemale you likes to be kissed ; 
if you do, they'll make it a habit. I hate habits. 
(Sings and moves out.) 

(Enter Donald, Takes off his coat. In work 
clothes. Goes to mirror and brushes hair. Puts on a 
lighter coat. Sits and reads a paper.) 

Betty (enters, goes to Donald, kisses him) : Hello 
dearie, dear. 

Donald : Hello Betty, pet. 

Betty (sits on arm of chair) : Bet you can't guess 
who's here. No, don't try. It's Rastus. 

Donald: Rastus who. 

Betty: Rastus Washington Lincoln, goose! He 
just came from home. Brought some soil for Jack to 
analyze. 

Donald: Oh, yes, Jack told me. He's making a 
special study of soil. Said he wanted to analyze that 
black swamp land of your father's and make some pot 
experiments with it. Jack thinks that land, if drained, 
will grow alfalfa. Says if it will, it will make five tons 
or more to the acre, and 40 acres will make 200 tons. 
Every ton is worth $15 right at the farm. That's 
$3,000. Jack says one year's crop would pay off the 
mortgage on the farm. 

Betty: Wonder where Jack is. He ought to be 
here now. It's almost supper time. He'll be glad to 
see Rastus. 



26 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Donald : Betty, do you remember four years ago ? 
{Betty sobs.) Don't cry, dear. There's nothing to 
regret. I'm glad everything happened. I'm glad you 
ran away; glad that Jack quarreled with his father; 
glad we followed you. You did give us a run, but a 
doting brother and a loving sweetheart are too much 
for a cur like that scoundrel that took you away. Let's 
see, you left your home about four in the afternoon 
and by nine o'clock we found you, just waiting for .a 
train. Oh, Betty, dear, I know if we had been 20 
minutes later you would have been lost to me forever. 
Are you sorry? 

Betty : Sorry, Donald, darling ! I'm happy every 
minute of the day. I'm never sad. If I were, all I'd 
need would just be to think of the narrow escape I 
had. How I do long to tell every girl I know never 
to have anything to do with a strange man ! And to 
think he was married, too ! Oh, it's awful ! 

Donald: Now, now, sweetheart, no more of this. 
What's past is gone forever. He got his deserts. He 
has still many years in the state's prison, serving that 
forgery charge. And you're here, my wife, and 
Jack's here, and we're all well. Jack graduates to- 
morrow, and he is sure to do credit to all. Isn't this a 
fine world after all? There's Jack. No more tears. 
{Betty runs out.) 

Jack : Hello, old man. In early, aren't you, or am 
I late? I was busy on some work I was doing. Do 
you know, old man, I think we struck something good. 
Got a new kind of spraying material — made it out of 
lime and sulphur, and it kills the scale on trees. I'm 
just wild to carry it through. It's certain to be worth 
thousands of dollars every year to fruit growers. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 2'J 

Donald : I'm learning things, too, Jack. To have 
a job on this college farm is almost equal to an educa- 
tion. I don't get all the theory, but I do get the prac- 
tice. I get theory, too, because I have been reading 
your books, and the agricultural papers, and today I 
know a thousand times more al^out farming than I did 
four years ago, when we came here. 

Jack : You're right, Donald. Hasn't ours been an 
experience? Just think of it! We came here four 
years ago with Betty, with hardly a cent between us. 
To protect Betty's good name, you, the fine brick you 
are, married her two hours later. And we went to 
work right away here. You to feed and clothe and 
keep Betty, and I to make my way through college. 
They've been busy years, every one, but every day 
we've learned something. Actually, Donald, we are 
better off than had we remained at home. I've fin- 
ished a four-year course in agriculture, paid every 
cent of expense and have a nice bank account besides. 
I've milked cows, hauled manure, hoed weeds and done 
a hundred jobs besides, and yet I've enjoyed every 
minute. And you, Donald, you've done better. You've 
proved yourself the best man I ever knew. You've 
made a home for Betty and me, and you've never once 
complained. 

Donald: Why, old chap, why should I complain? 
Haven't you helped ? Haven't you paid for your board 
and room? Haven't you taught me, showed me what 
to read ? Why, man, I couldn't be better off. I have 
a bank account, too. Betty and I have been saving 
several dollars every week after we got settled since 
we've been here. I like my work. I've learned what I 
wouldn't sell for $10,000. Some day I'll leave here 
and farm on my own account and then that knowledge 
will bring in big dividends. 



28 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Jack: That's a fact, Donald. It's been fine for 
both of us. Heaven sent us here together. Had we 
had our way we would be at home, doing just like 
other people. Here we've had a vision; here we see 
the goodness of things, the big outlook of country life. 
{Walks to side and front, looks up, throws out his 
arms.) Oh, God, I thank thee for Silas Watson. I 
thank thee for father's blow. I thank thee for Betty's 
trouble and for Thy protection at that time. Keep me 
true, clean minded, teach me to walk straight, let me 
never forget truth and honor, and direct my footsteps 
ever to the country — out among my folks, to the fields 
and the skies. (Comes back to Donald.) Well, well, 
old man, it's a good world, anyway. 

Betty (enters) : What are you boys doing? So 
serious? This isn't a funeral. We've got a visitor. 

Jack : A visitor — who ? 

Betty : Rastus Washington Abraham Lincoln. 

Jack : Is that so ? Where ? I want to see him. 

Betty: He's out in the kitchen with Trueletta. 
Now, hurry up, supper is nearly ready. (Jack starts 
out.) Don't be gone long. Jack. 

Betty (puts hand on Donald) : The world's so 
good to me. I'm so happy. If mother were only 
here, and father! 

Donald: I'm glad for your sake, Betty. If Jack 
only had a wife like you ! By the way, do you ever 
hear anythirig of Gertie Bowers? I wonder where 
she is. 

Betty : Now, Donald, I'll tell you a secret. Promise 
you won't tell ? 

Donald: Never; I never tell your secrets. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 29 

Betty : Well, I am expecting Gertie tonight. Jack 
doesn't know that Gertie has been back at Cobstown 
teaching the old school again this past year. You aw- 
ful boys were so angry when you left that you never go 
back and never write, so you don't know what's hap- 
pening there. Gertie went to the state normal school, 
studied domestic science and agriculture along with 
her other studies. She finished her work in three 
years, and tonight is coming here — to attend com- 
mencement and see Jack graduate. 

Donald : She loves him, then. 

Betty: I don't know. She's never saia so. But, 
oh, she's doing such fine work in the old school. Got 
everybody interested. Has classes in agriculture, 
cooking, sewing, and teaches a lot of things about 
country Hfe. She writes that there is coming over the 
country a new idea in education. But I can't tell you 
all; you'll have to get her to tell. Now, remember, 
nothing of this to Jack. 

Donald: Betty, I just love you more and more 
every day. You are the sweetest and completest girl 
in all the world. 

(Trueletta enters, scratching herself.) 

Betty: What's the matter, Trueletta? You give 
me the creeps. 

Trueletta: It's germanies, Mishess Brooks; I 
cotched 'em in Mister Jack's room. 

Donald : Fiddlesticks, Trueletta ! What are you 
talking about? You mean germs — bacteria. They 
don't hurt anybody. They are the things that make 
milk sour and alfalfa to grow. 

Trueletta : I don't know what they do, but they're 
growing on me. I feels 'em all over. (Donald goes 



30 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

to Jack's room, brings out a twig with San Jose scale, 
some alfalfa or clover roots and some clover seed.) 

Donald: Here they are, they won't hurt. {Ashe 
throws a few seed in the air Trueletta throws up her 
hands, runs out, exclaiming.) 

Trueletta: Good laws a Massa! They's growd 
as big as beans. 

Jack (enters): I saw Rastus; he's surely rigged 
out. He's so happy it oozes out all over his grinning 
old head. 

Betty: Come, boys, supper is ready and I'm 
hungry. (They go out.) 

(Trueletta, with Rastus in hand, walks in. Rastus 
still grinning.) 

Trueletta: Now, you keep out of my kitchen. 
I've got to serve this supper and I don't want no 
niggah around. You set on that chair till I comes for 
you. 

Rastus: Yessam, purty one. (He sits, then gets 
up, walks on tip-toe around the room. Picks up some 
books.) Why wasn't I a scholar ? I kin read, yessir; 
I kin read. Readin' ain't my speshulty, howsoever. 
Neither ain't geogaf ry, nor figgerin'. I guess I'm best 
at talkin'. (In walking around he comes to window, 
which is open. Sees a man looking in. Let's a yell 
and runs the opposite way. Collides with Trueletta, 
who enters from the door. Donald, Betty and Jack 
come in also. Will Jefferson, as a convict, jumps 
through the window, a revolver in his hand. True- 
letta drops to floor. Rastus jumps under the table.) 

Will: Hands up. (Sees Betty.) My God, you 
here! 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 3 1 

Betty : Donald ! 

Jack : Who are you ? What are you doing here ? 
Oh, I see you are Will Jefferson. {Betty stands by 
Donald.) Put up your gun. (Walks up to him.) 
Explain. 

Will: Oh, save me! You know all about me. 
I'm a bad tgg, I know. I came here hoping to hide. 
I escaped from the pen. They're after me. I don't 
want to be taken back. (Falls on his knees.) Save 
me, oh, save me! 

Jack: Get up. Be a man. You might have been, 
but I doubt if you can. Tell me, do you deserve what 
you got? 

Will: I guess I do. I didn't mean to do what I 
did. I got in a hole. I had to have money. I forged 
the note. 

Jack: Then pay the cost. What if we were to 
save you? You'd be caught any way. You'd be 
hunted the world over. Give yourself up; you 
danced, now pay the fiddler. You ruined your own 
home, forsook your family, nearly ruined another, and 
now you come cringing for mercy. What would you do 
with mercy? Break another heart; imperil another 
soul. Go back to prison, pay that debt. Do right and 
live right and then when your sentence is finished you 
can come out and try again. If you were to escape 
now, it would mean your ruin forever. 

(Heavy rap on door. Billy admits prison guard. y 

Prison Guard : You have my man, I see. He gave 
me a chase. I thought I had. lost him. Come here, 
sir. We go back. Thank you for this trouble. 



32 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Will: I guess this is best. I'll think over what 
you said. Madam, forgive me for the wrong I once 
did you. I have no excuse. Fast living in the city 
did it. Cities are had places for young people. There 
are a thousand pitfalls. I fell in them all — drink, dens 
of vice, gambling, gay lights, amusements. They are 
all empty. They glitter without, but inside are hollow. 
Had I been born and reared in the country, had I been 
required to work, been taught to read and think and 
study, I'd never been where I am today. 

Prison Guard : Come on ; we got to go. 

Will (to the others) : Take this from one who's 
down and out — the world is sweetest in the country; 
toil in the fields and gardens makes men and women 
of boys and girls. You think farm work is a hard- 
ship; it's a blessing — the best gift that you can get. 
You think the city is gay and full of happiness; it's 
full of misery and rotten deceit. You who were not 
born in the city think if you could only live there, your 
lives would be full and complete; undeceive your- 
selves. Rejoice every day of your life that you were 
born in the country. Go back to it ; take the fields to 
your bosom, make friends of the birds and flowers, be 
companions of the animals and learn of their kindness, 
sweetness, unselfishness. In the country you're a 
man, a real being ; in the city you're a make-believe, a 
slave. (Turns.) Prison guard, I'm ready. I'm 
going back — to prepare myself to be a man. Forgive 
me, pray for me. I need it ; my sins killed my mother ; 
they drove my angel wife to the grave. Good-by. 
(They go out.) 

Donald (puts arm around Betty's shoulder) : Poor 
man ! My sympathy goes out to him. How true it is : 
whatsoever one sows that also shall he reap. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 33 

Betty {puts hands on his shoulders, looks into his 
face) : The truest, best, kindest, sweetest, noblest 
man in all the world (kissing him). 

Jack: Here, this won't do; cheer up, everybody. 
Rastus, you help Trueletta with the dishes. (Rastus 
andTrueletta go out.) And tomorrow's commencement. 
(Rap on door.) Hello, somebody's coming. (Goes 
to the door. Enter Gertie with hand bag.) 

Gertie: Good evening, all. (Betty rushes to her 
and takes her in her arms. Jack looks on thunder- 
struck. After the embrace she offers her hand to 
Jack.) 

Gertie : Aren't you glad to see me, Mr. Wilson ? 

Jack: Why, Gertie — Miss Bowers, I'm so glad to 
see you. This is joy, indeed. Here, old man (to 
Donald), welcome our old friend into our home. 
(Donald gives his hand, as he does saying) : 

Donald: Welcome, thrice welcome and then an- 
other welcome besides ! 

(Betty helps her off with her wraps, kisses her 
again.) 

Gertie: I'm just in from Cobstown. School closed 
two weeks ago, but I was finishing up some work with 
my boys and girls — we're preparing a little ground for 
some wheat experiments this fall and were anxious to 
have some cowpeas planted to get their good services 
during the summer. 

Jack: What do you know about cowpeas — ^you, a 
girl, a woman? 

Gertie: Why shouldn't I know, why shouldn't 
every girl know about cowpeas and root tubercles ? We 
learn in school how the earth turns on its axis, so why 



34 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

shouldn't we know a little about how bacteria build up 
the earth and make land rich and fertile? 

Jack: But Miss Bowers, where did you learn 
about such things? I thought you hated country 
things. 

Gertie: No, not that I ever hated the country — I 
love it. What I hate is the narrow, bitter life that so 
many farmers unnecessarily build around themselves. 
Farmers are God's chosen people, with all the very 
best things of life at their very doors. Yet somehow 
they just simply fail to take unto themselves these 
good things that would come of their own accord if 
they were just given the chance. 

Betty : That's right. I often think now how easy 
we could have added comforts to our old house — ^^how 
many good times we could have had — how many 
evenings in winter we could have enlivened with 
friends if we had just taken a little pleasure, not 
trouble, in inviting out friends to come in. Take the 
telephone. Jack, you know how hard we tried to get 
father to have one put in; but he said it only con- 
tributed to women gossiping and he wouldn't budge 
an inch. There's dozens of ways to brighten things 
up on the farm. 

Donald : I have learned lots of things in the four 
years I've been working here. One is, that money is 
only a means of doing things. I'm glad of this city 
experience for one thing: it's taught me what comfort 
in the home means. Betty, when we get on our own 
farm, I'll put in modern conveniences the first thing. 
If a bigger barn is needed it will have to wait until you 
get a furnace-heated house ; and a water system with 
kitchen sinks, a bathroom and decent lights. I'll see 
that we have a cozy living room with a table for books 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 35 

and papers, a real agricultural library and music and 
comfortable chairs — 

Betty : And nice warm slippers for your big feet. 

Donald : Oh ! I mean it. I mean every word I 
say. I have been figuring these things up. Do you 
know, one reasonably good-sized bunch of fat hogs will 
pay for them all? 

Jack: Donald, you've learned the greatest lesson 
there is in agriculture. A four-year course couldn't 
teach more than what you have just said. Do you 
agree with me, Miss Bowers ? 

Gertie: From the bottom of my heart I do, Mr. 
Wilson. I don't know if you know it or not, but I, 
too, am a graduate. Don't look surprised ! I finished 
at the state normal last year. This year I've been 
teaching at Cobstown. If there's one lesson I have 
been trying to drive home to my pupils it's been to 
show the glory of country life. I've been trying to 
show the dignity of farming over clerking in stores, 
selling medicines over the counter of a drug store or 
handing out somebody else's money over the bank coun- 
ter. I want my boys and girls to go back home after 
they quit school with the idea of building real, human 
homes in which growing hearts and brains and souls 
may be harbored. Mr. Brooks is right* Education is 
nothing, can mean nothing, if it fails to develop char- 
acter, or fails to teach how to live. 

Jack: I go still further. Some of the meanest 
men I know are rich in worldly goods. Home is 
nothing to them; they are mentally and spiritually 
starved. Some of the worst failures in life are col- 
lege graduates. There are boys right here in this 
school who know many languages, who can solve all 



36 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

sorts of problems in mathematics, who know history 
by the book and yet they will fail in carrying on the 
real, worth-while things of life. 

•Gertie: The education Mr. Brooks has acquired 
is the most deserving of a diploma of nine-tenths of 
the work done in any school. 

Betty: I didn't know my country boy was a 
graduate. 

Gertie: He has graduated; he's learned how to 
live. 

Jack: And that's the sum and substance of all 
education. 

Trueletta {enters) : Missus Brooks, how 'bout 
sum bread for breakf us' ? We's all out. {Betty rises 
and moves hack.) 

Betty : I declare ! So many things have happened 
tonight. I'll soon have you all starving. Come, 
Donald, walk with me to the bakery. {Donald rises 
and takes up his hat.) 

Betty: You'll excuse us a little while, will you? 
That diploma of Donald's has so swollen his head I'll 
have to take him in the air to cool it off. 

Donald : Gertie, it's mighty fine to have you with 
us again. And I'm so glad {looking toward Jack) 
you like the country. 

{Jack and Gertie arise. Gertie takes a chair toward 
the front. Jack comes forward. Donald and Betty 
go out.) 

Jack : You surprised me about your college course. 
I never knew. Why didn't you write and tell me ? 

Gertie: How could I, Mr. Wilson? I — 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 37 

Jack: Gertie, can't we be just Gertie and Jack as 
we used to be? {He takes her hand, she rises and 
walks away, confused, but happy.) 

Jack: Gertie, won't you speak to me? (She 
hangs her head, takes her handkerchief.) Have four 
years carried you beyond me ? Are you lost to me for- 
ever ? I swear my love is a thousand times truer and 
stronger today than ever. 

Gertie : You never said — never wrote — never tried 
to find me. 

Jack : Oh, Gertie, I didn't know. When you said 
you wouldn't be a farmer's wife, wouldn't marry me, 
my soul collapsed. I came here — resolved to spend 
four years in studying agriculture. What hope could 
I have? Every young man is in love with you. I 
had no prospects, no money — ^and, above all — no right 
even to ask you to wait. That's why I never tried to 
find you. I couldn't even bear to see you. Now it's 
different. You came tonight — you are the dawn of a 
new day to me. If it isn't too late, give me a chance — 
just a fighting chance— that's all I ask, Gertie. 

Gertie : Yes, Mr.— Jack, I'm listening. 

Jack: In my dreams, aye, in my work— in the 
laboratory — in the barns — summer and winter, I've 
thought of you ; you were my inspiration ; you went 
before me, a spirit, your hand out beckoning me. I 
often almost stopped. I worked so hard — the tasks 
often were bitter; I was almost ready to give up. 
Then you, dear heart, you in spirit appeared. You 
smiled, you cheered; you were again the inspiration. 
And I'm here, with just a night between that past and 
the commencement of tomorrow. 

Gertie {smiling, taking his hand) : And, Jack, may 



38 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

it be a real commencement — your own glorious com- 
mencement of great and noble deeds ! 

Jack : Without you, Gertie, it would be the ending, 
not the commencement. 

Gertie : No, not that, Jack. 

Jack : Listen, Gertie. I'm in the dark, I can't see. 
I only know that I love you — I worship you — mind 
and soul and body. I want that fighting chance to 
win you. May I have it? 

Gertie : Four years are much. Love often burns 
out in a far shorter time. I don't know, Jack! Our 
lives have been so far apart. You have been "in my 
thoughts also — I often wondered what you were doing, 
how you were getting along. I knew you were here, 
but I thought you no longer cared for me. I — 

Jack: Gertie, a country boy, just a plain country 
boy, lays his love at your feet. The boy isn't good 
enough for you, but his honor is unstained, his love 
is pure, his past is clean. Otherwise, he hasn't much to 
offer of that past. But of his future he offers every- 
thing — his loyalty, devotion, affection, life. Whatever 
happens, he'll be true, he will work for your comfort, 
give his labor into your keeping, his rewards into your 
hands. Gertie, I can't say more — only this: I love 
you. 

Gertie : That's much — all any man can say. And 
I'll answer you. Yes, I will make a promise. If at 
a later day, when the excitement of this meeting has 
waned, when in your sober mind you have thought all 
things out, and you still want me, as you do now, I — 
{Jack starts toward her.) I'll give you my answer. 
Here's my hand on the promise. (Jack takes it, 
covers it with kisses.) 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 39 

(Donald and Betty return with several packages.) 

Betty: What a glorious night! Isn't it glorious 

to be alive ? 

Gertie: Indeed, you're right. (Looks at Jack.) 
I can honestly say that life was never so wonderful to 
me as at this very moment. (All look up, happy and 
surprised. ) 

Jack : And you mean that? (She nods her head.) 
Betty, Donald, I took advantage of your absence. I 
asked Gertie again to marry me. She hasn't promised. 
She gave me hope — a chance — and I shall win. 

Gertie: Yes, that's true, but he must be sure. 
(Betty goes up and takes Gertie in her arms.) 

Betty : The world was never sweeter than tonight. 
I, too, was never so happy. (She walks toward kitchen 
and calls.) Trueletta! (No answer.) I wonder 
where those two brats have gone. 

(Knock at door — enter Mrs. Wilson and Abagail.) 

Donald : No end to surprises. 

Betty: Mother! (folds her in her arms). 

Jack: Oh, darling mother! (Jack takes them both 
in his arms). 

Abagail (shakes hands with all) : I brought her. 
She was just pining away. If it hadn't been for men's 
work, she'd been ten years younger. (All greet each 
other.) 

Gertie : I see that you still find fault with the men. 

Abagail: Find fault; they's made up of faults. 
That's all they is— just faults. Ugh, deliver me from 
a man! 



40 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Betty: Oh, I'm so happy and so glad you came! 
(Eipbraces her again.) How's father, mother? 

Mrs. Wilson: He misses you Betty — misses you 
both. (Jack looks up, starts.) He's waiting for you 
to come home. I knew you wouldn't until Jack fin- 
ished his schoolin'. He wouldn't write ; he doesn't say 
much, but he feels and I know he's sorry for all that's 
passed. You mustn't hold things against him — you're 
his children — he loves you — he's waiting for you to 
come home. You will, Jack, you will come home? 
(All look at Jack, confused.) 

Jack: I can't, mother. I love the old farm, but 
he looks at things differently than I. I wanted to do 
some things then, I would want to do a hundred now. 
He would never consent to what I would want to do. 

Mrs. Wilson : Jack, my boy (takes his hand, rises, 
she pats his hand, he puts his arm about her), his work 
is done. Yours begins now. The farm is yours and 
Betty's, anyway, .after our time. Come home, it's to 
be a partnership. And Betty and Donald, too. There's 
room for all. You boys are big and strong and full of 
new ideas. Father and I will help, will work with you. 
You come back home — back on the old farm — our 
farm; we'll live a new life henceforth. You'll come? 
(Jack doesn't answer.) 

Gertie: Jack, your mother speaks. You gradu- 
ate tomorrow ; it's your commencement. It's the com- 
mencement of your big future in the country, among 
your own people, among country folk — the big- 
hearted, loving, wonderful country people. To the 
country, Jack, which God made — not the city, which 
man made. That's the place you're called to go. Your 
mother. Jack, is the messenger — you must answer her. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 4I 

Jack (hesitates): What can I say? Yes, it's to 
be home — the old home. I will go to father and 
mother and the farm. And you, Betty and Donald, 
you're to come, too. And some day I hope another 
(looking to Gertie) will also join in partnership. 

(Curtain) 



Note. — At the close of this act, before the curtain 
goes down, a quartette or double quartette of boys, or 
boys and girls, representing college boys and girls, may 
enter and sing a song of their own selection or the fol- 
lowing, sung to the chant, 

The Gloria Patri 

To dig out Greek and Latin roots 

We did not come to college ; 
But of the earth and all her fruits 

To get a store of knowledge. 
Our thoughts to beef do mostly turn, 

To cabbage and tomatoes ; 
We want to learn the cheapest way 

Of raising big potatoes. 
And when weVe found out how to grow 

The rich and luscious pumpkins 
Then home to father's farm we'll go 

And shine among the bumpkins. Amen. 



ACT III 

Wilson's living room. Same as Act I, but changed 
in furnishings. Cozy chairs, stove removed. Book- 
case with books, telephone and other features of an up- 
to-date, modern, prosperous farm home living room. 

Sam (coming in with an armful of mail) : True- 
letta! I wonder where that miserable, contrary rat 
head is ! (Sits down in chair, opens a paper, starts to 
read), 

Sam : Think of me settin' down and readin'. Golly, 
don't times change, though? When I begun to work 
on this here farm there wa'n't nary a paper took in 
this house. Never had to bother about no mail box 
then. (Telephone rings.) Nor about sich things as 
tellerfones neither ! Wonder where that lazy nigger is ? 
(Goes to 'phone.) Hullo! Yas! Naw, this ain't 
her! This's Sam! Yes, Sam. Oh, how de do, Mr. 
Watson J No, he ain't here now. The hull family 
left an hour ago in the mobile car. Where? Oh, to 
John Brooks' house. They'll be back any minute. 
Good-by. (Sam hangs up receiver, goes back to chair. 
Puts his feet on table. Then gets up, goes out to 
pantry, gets a big piece of pie, starts to eat. Returns. 
Sits. Puts feet up, gets paper, and reads. Rubs his 
stomach.) 

Sam : That nigger gal ain't no thin' on looks, but 
she am mighty swell on cookin' pie. (Knock on door. 
Continues to read. Knock a second time.) Where's 
that gurl, anyway, I'd like to know. Why ain't she 
here tendin' her duties? (Rap continues.) Come in! 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 43 

Abagail (his back to the door, continues to read) : 
This is hospitality, ain't it ? But what can you expect 
of a man? (Sam turns, face brightens, jumps up.) 

Sam : Gracious me, am that you, Abagail ? I was 
jist thinkin' of you. I was so lonely. 

Abagail : Well, I didn't come to take any of your 
loneliness away. Whare's the folks ? 

Sam:^ I'se here to r'present 'em. Tse all the folks 
there is just now. All's gone but me. 

Abagail: Goodness me, am I alone in this house 
with you? I was never alone with a man before. 
Think of my reputation ! (Moves toward door.) 

Sam : Well, I ain't goin' to hurt your reputation ! 
Ain't we's old enough without fearin' such things as 
reputations ? I don't fear mine. 

Abagail : You ain't got none and never had none ; 
no man has. I'm goin'. I wouldn't stay here for 
nothing. (Sam starts after her.) 

Abagail: Stay where you are. Stay where you 
are. (Sam laughs, she goes out. Sam shakes his 
head, walks about, then sits down.) 

Abagail (opens door) : Sam, if you'll come out 
doors I'll talk to you. 

Sam (gets up) : Ain't that just like Abagail. She^s 
so particular ; so strictly observant of the rules of con- 
vential observation. I just love her. I'm going 
right out and ax her if she'll become Mrs. Snipes. 
(Goes out.) 

Trueletta (enters from opposite side, singing, 
stops, sees mail scattered about.) Great sufferin' cat- 
fish ! Who done that ? That ornery Sam Snipes's been 



44 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

here. Lordy, how much wurk he does cause me! 
(Sits on chair; folds her arms, leans hack.) 

Trueletta : Now ain't this comfort ? 

Abagail {outside, screams): Help! {Trueletta 
runs out — Sam gives big laugh. Enter Trueletta and 
Abagail.) 

Abagail : Oh, oh, that awful man tried to kiss me ! 
Me — whose lips has never been kissed before! I'll 
die-— I'll die! 

Trueletta : Nonsense, Missus Abagail ; nonsense ; 
no kiss ever killed nobody. 

Abagail: And he spiled it all; I was just gettin' 
ready to like that big yappin' brute. Now, he up and 
spiles it all. Believe me, Trueletta, a man's the wust 
animal ever born. 

Trueletta: Thare's whare you're wrong, Aba- 
gail. For wimmens they're the best animals livin'. 
Now, there's Rastus. I make him stand 'round and 
shiver and shake and 'pologize, but that's just done 
for fun. Rastus, he's axed me nigh onto 37 times to 
marry him and I am going to do it some day — see if I 
don't. {Abagail, with face covered with apron, sobs.) 

{Sam sticks his head in, motions to Trueletta, who 
goes out. Trueletta returns, and hands Abagail a big 
red apple.) 

Trueletta: Sam says fur me to hands this to 
you'se, and if you don'ts mind to come out of doors he 
wants to show you the new calf's they's got. 

Abagail : One of them big Holsteins that costs so 
much money? 

Trueletta: Yassam — one of the purtiest cow in- 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 45 

fants you ever see. You go seen it, Missus. It's 
worth a lot of lookin' at. (Abagail goes out.) 

(At other side, rap on door. Enter Silas Watson.) 

Silas : Folks home yet ? 

Trueletta: I thinks they's comin' now. I hear 
their toot. Yas, that's them. (Enter Betty, Mr. and 
Mrs. Wilson.) 

Betty: Good morning, Silas. 

Henry: Mornin' Silas. (Betty goes out.) 

Sarah: Good mornin', Mr. Watson. Well, I 
hope ? 

Silas: As usual. Fm gradually gettin' old, how- 
ever. 

Sarah: So's we all. But that's to be expected. 
(Sarah takes off wraps, goes out.) 

Silas: You, Henry, you certainly look good. I 
never knowed you to look so spry. 

Henry: Spry! I'm gettin' younger every day. 
Why shouldn't I? I'm happy, the old farm is doin' 
glorious, I've got the finest boy and girl and son-in-law 
in all the county. And Sarah and me's joyful as birds. 

Silas: I was just thinkin', Henry, what young 
blood is able to do. Three years ago you was dis- 
couraged — you were ready to quit — everything was 
wrong — the farm slidin' back — and then Jack came 
home from the agricultural college — and just look at 
things today ! 

(Betty enters, goes to telephone, rings and gives 
number.) 

Henry: That's so. It looks a miracle, don't it? 



46 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

But it ain't. It's simply these boys here's mixed some 
brains up in the soil. That 'splains everything. 

Betty: That you, Gertie? This is Betty. Say, 
Gertie, I want you to come over right away and spend 
the day and night with us. This is the seventh anni- 
versary of Donald's and my wedding. You've got to 
come. I'll send Rastus in the car for you. Good-by, 
dearie. (Hangs up receiver.) 

Silas : I came out today as Jack axed me to. He 
said he has a certified check and to bring your old note 
with me. Here it is. (Takes it out of his pocket.) 

Henry: That note is over fifteen years old. I 
tried hard, Silas, to pay it. But I was working the 
wrong way. I now see it was impossible. I farmed 
wrong; I didn't keep pace with progress. Farming 
was just muscle with me. I didn't use what little 
brains I got. I saved and saved. I hung onto pennies ; 
if I had spent dimes on improvement I would have got 
dollars in return. 

Silas: It's all in the way you save and the way 
you spend. 

Henry: Exactly. You can lose money by saving 
— and save money by spending — if you spend right. 
Money spent for the right kind of fertilizers brings 
more money back. Money spent on race horses is 
money throwed away. Money spent on drainin' lands 
is investment. 

Silas: I know it, Henry. Didn't I say so when 
Jack and Donald came to me and asked to borrow 
$1,800? I says : "Boys, what's she fur?" "Drainin' 
that swamp," they said. "You can have it," I "Taid, 
right off the bat. "But will it cost all of that to drain 
that field ?" I said. "No," they said ; "we want to put in 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 47 

a septic tank — that'll cost $35. We've got to put in 
a water system and a bathroom — that's $260 more," ^ 
they said. ''And we got to put furnace heat in — that's 
$210 more; and then we've got to do a little paintin' 
and fixin' up." "It's yours, boys," I said. Henry, 
money for improvements never fails to earn interest, 
'specially if spent on drainage and home conveniences. 

Henry : And look at things today ! Silas, this here 
farm is actually worth more'n three times what it was 
three years ago. 

Silas : When them boys come back ag'in and said : 
"Silas, we want to borry $1,000 more," well, I'm not 
saying I wasn't disturbed, but I was game. I looked 
square at 'em and said: "Boys, what's she fur?" 
And they came right square back : "$250 for a pure- 
bred Holstein bull, $300 for pure-bred Holstein 
heifers, $300 for four good grades and $150 for some 
pure-bred Duroc- Jersey hogs." And I said: "It's 
yourn, boys," without batting an eye. 

Henry: Here come the boys now. 

Jack and Donald: How do you do, Mr. Watson? 

Silas : Howdy, boys. I'm here, you see. 

Jack : Yes, and we're ready for you. Here's your 
$3,000, Silas, and interest. The check is certified. 
(Silas hands over note. Jack tears it in two.) 

Jack: Our last debt. The old mortgage is wiped 
out, the old farm is clean as a whistle. The big swamp 
field, the new cows and the new hogs did the job. 

Donald: Jack, tell Mr. Watson about the alfalfa 
in the swamp. 

Jack : Well, you know that old field ; 40 acres in it ; 
soil black and rich, but very wet. I studied it care- 



48 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

fully when I came back from college ; found it needed 
lime and potash. We tile-drained. It was a big job, 
wasn't it, Donald? 

Donald: Indeed it was; but we plowed it before 
winter and limed it and in the spring put it to silage 
corn. 

Jack : Donald and I had some money we saved up 
during the years at college. We used some of that 
money for building a hollow tile silo. We had that 
corn planted early and in the silo in time to plow the 
field the same fall. By August the land was ready 
for bone and potash and alfalfa bacteria and the seed. 

Donald: It kept us on the jump. And after it 
was seeded we visited that field every day. People 
say there's no excitement in the country — no sensa- 
tions — nothing to interest one ! Watching that alfalfa 
brought me more excitement than any other event of 
my life. 

Jack: And everything went well; the seed had 
been tested and it came right up ; in two months that 
field was a beautiful sight — every spot was fine and it 
stood nearly a foot high when the snows came. The 
next spring and summer — we cut it four times — fully 
150 tons. 

Henry : The finest hay I ever see and the biggest 
crop. 

Jack: We couldn't use half of it. We actually 
sold enough hay to pay you that first money we bor- 
rowed. The balance of the hay we fed. How the 
stock did feast on it! We never before got so much 
milk. Even the old scrub cows caught the spirit and 
competed with the pure-breds in shelling out the milk. 

Silas : It's wonderful work you've done. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 49 

Donald: And the swamp field did it. Just think 
of it! We've built new fences around every field on 
the farm, put up two more silos, enlarged the barn, 
trebled the number of cows, got a complete outfit of 
tools and implements, started a fine new orchard, put 
an addition to the house and fixed it up with every 
modern convenience — and it was all done out of that 
old unused swamp land. 

Henry: And there's many more acres in these 
parts just like it. The same could be done with them. 

Jack : That's true. It's possible to take any farm, 
and by studying its needs to make it respond as this 
one has. If only the boys, the thinking farm boys, 
would turn their minds to the home farms and after 
completing their education, return to them, they would 
find not only interesting work, but more profit and joy 
than opens in any other direction. {Betty comes in 
with Gertie, who just arrives.) 

Gertie: Mr. Wilson, how fine you look! Mr. 
Watson, how are you ? How do, Donald ? Jack, how 
are you? 

{Henry and Silas step to the rear. Billy and Betty, 
Jack and Gertie are together.) 

Jack : Gertie, we've just paid the last cent we owe. 
We've won our farm fight. {Silas and Henry inter- 
rupt and come forward.) 

Henry: Wonder if you'll excuse me and Silas a 
little. I want to show him about, and let him have a 
look at the Holsteins. {They go out.) 

Gertie : You dandy boys, I want to thank you for 
your help in my school fight. We've won, in a bigger 
and better school. The board of education has de- 
cided to add two more rooms, combine in our school 



50 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

four other districts, get two more teachers and make a 
real country Hfe school. It's great. We're to have a 
domestic science laboratory and an agricultural labora- 
tory, and from now we can train the boys and girls in 
the work that will help them after they leave school. 

Donald: That fight was yours, Gertie. You 
fought it fair and square and won. The battle, how- 
ever, was fought years ago, when you came here and 
started that new kind of school. Pshaw, what's been 
done today was just the natural outcome. 

Betty: That's right, Gertie. I am told people 
didn't like some of the things you did when you first 
came back from the normal school. They wanted you 
to teach just the same things as the other teachers had 
been teaching. 

Gertie : I know it. And I did lots of crying over 
it, too, but what was I to do? Nearly every boy and 
girl who came to my school was going to be a farmer 
— he was going to be a farmer, whether be wanted to 
be or not. I decided that if that was the case he ought 
to be a good farmer and the girls good wives who 
understood at least the more important things about 
homemaking. I studied and thought and worked. At 
last I saw my duty and I tried to do it. 

Donald : And you've done it better than any man 
could do it. 

Betty : That's so, and there's no denying it. 

Gertie: Whether it's so or not I was honest in 
what I did. 

Betty: This is all very interesting, but we've got 
things to do. Gertie, you come with me. I've some 
things to talk over with mother about tonight. What 
will you boys do? 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 5 1 

Jack: That reminds me, Donald; let's go to the 
office — we must finish up those dairy records, and 
figure out the feed rations for the cows that are to go 
on the silage-alfalfa test. The quicker at it, the 
quicker done. {They go out.) 

{Enter Rastiis and Triieletta bending up and dozvn 
with laughter.) 

Trueletta : Don't you dare tell, niggah ! 

Rastus : Of course I won't. But wa'n't he pleadin' 
though? {Continues to laugh.) 

Trueletta: He certainly wus! {Laughs.) 

Rastus: And she wasn't objectin' neither. Oh, 
my, oh my! {Laughs holder than ever. Both laugh.) 
Wonder what that Holstein calf thought. 

Rastus: Trueletta! {Soberly.) 

Trueletta: What, Rastus? {Also soberly.) 

Rastus: Come here. {She comes.) 

Trueletta : What ? 

Rastus: You take me. {His arm about her, they 
go out.) 

{Henry and Silas return. Henry gets down his pipe, 
fills it and smokes.) 

Silas : It's simply wonderful what those boys have 
done. 

Henry : They done it, Silas ; they done it. 
Silas : By knowin' how. 
Henry : Knowin' how and havin' faith. 
Silas : And not a f card to work. 

Henry: Not only not afeard to work, but doin' 
the work well. 



52 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Silas : And livin' up to their word. 

Henry : And livin' up to their word. 

Silas: Do you know, Henry, the best credit a 
man's got is meetin' every promise he makes? No 
man should ever make a promise unless he knows he 
can meet it. 

Henry: Silas, farmin's changin*. It's changin' 
in .every way. Today it consists of new things. Do 
you know nothin's the same as when we was boys. 
The trouble is, methods change, tools change, customs 
change, but us farmers we jist sit tight and never 
budge. We've got to progress with the rest of things. 

Silas : The old order changeth. 

Henry: Exactly. The old order changeth. 

Silas: Cows have changed, pigs have changed, 
chickens, corn, wheat, tools, fences, barns, everything 
has been improved or changed. 

Henry : Everything but people. We're just as sot 
in our ways, just as stubborn as ever. 

Silas: And get mad if someone insists on doin' 
things in a better way. 

Henry : Exactly. 

Silas: It's been my observation, Henry, that the 
man who is keenest to learn about new things in agri- 
culture is them with brains and push who leaves for 
the town or city. 

Henry : That's true of the past, but right now the 
brightest boys are actually going off to college to study 
agriculture with the idea of coming back home and 
runnin' the home farm. 

Silas : As your boys have done. 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 53 

Henry: Exactly. As Jack did, although I op- 
posed. Jack tells me that over 50,000 boys last year 
were students of agriculture in the different colleges. 

Silas : Wonderful, isn't it ? 

Henry : And if they do half as well as Jack and 
Donald, wonderful will be the results. 

{Jack comes in.) 

Jack: Father, what do you think? By changing 
our feeding ration of the cows last month, we actually 
have made $59 clear. 

Henry: How's that? 

Jack : Well, you know we had a lot of corn. We 
grew it primarily to feed. Well, corn's gone up. I 
figured out that we might better sell corn and buy a 
little cottonseed meal. After swopping feeds and 
paying for the extra labor of hauling, we made money. 

Silas : That's scientific farming. 

Henry : Exactly. 

Jack: Call it what you will. It's just good plain 
business. We figured a bit and made money on the 
figuring. But there's another thing. The cottonseed 
meal contains four times as much fertility as corn ; in 
fact, over twice as much nitrogen as all the fertilizer 
elements in corn. Selling corn and buying meal not 
only brings more money for milk, but adds to our fer- 
tilizer capital deposited in the soil. 

Silas : Wonderful ! 

Henry : Wonderful ! 

(Enter Donald.) 

Donald: Say, folks, I want to show you some- 
thing in the orchard. Where we thinned the fruit and 



54 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

fertilized those old apple trees and sprayed them, some 
remarkable results are showing up. 

Henry and Silas : All right. 

Silas : We're in fur anything. 

(All depart but Jack. He sits, takes pencil and 
starts to draw.) 

Gertie (enters): Everybody out? (Jack rises, 
goes to Gertie.) 

Jack: I am glad you came in. I've just started a 
little plan of making over a change or two in this 
house. 

Gertie: What's Prince Jack up to now? A ball- 
room or prison cell? 

Jack: Neither, Mistress Sarcasm; I am just 
thinking how to get some outside sleeping rooms, and 
an open dining and living room on to this house. 

Gertie (clapping hands) : Fine! What a wonder- 
ful man you are ! 

Jack: Don't make fun of me, Gertie. I'm in 
earnest. 

Gertie: All right, I know you are. Now tell me 
and I'll promise not to interrupt you once. 

Jack : Well, here's the idea. We live in the coun- 
try. For six months we can eat and sit out of doors 
and enjoy the lovely air. And, if properly made, we 
could sleep out of doors also ; if not for all the year, 
then the greater part of it. And why not? Donald 
and I can do much of the work ourselves. 

Gertie : Oh, won't that be fine ! How did you ever 
think of it ? 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 55 

Jack: I've been thinking about it for some time, 
but I've been so *busy, I've never been able to get 
around to it. 

Gertie: Why don't more farmers do the same 
thing so they can Hve out of doors? 

Jack : Others are just Hke us, too busy to get at it. 
But somebody has to make a start. So we'll do it. 

Gertie : It's simply glorious ! 

Jack : The trouble is, Gertie, too many folks have 
been used to thinking about the house as just four 
walls ; just as a place to eat and to sleep and to wash 
in. They have not made home attractive ; they have 
not got out all the possibilities of the soil ; they have 
merely been farmers, not getting enough profit out of 
their crops to improve the old farm or to make the 
home beautiful. Then the young folks, after a while, 
leave the farm. Home, Gertie, is love and affection ; 
it is the hearthstone ; it is the rocking cradle ; it is the 
prattling child; it is the mother's smile; it is the 
father's strong right arm; it is the dearest place on 
earth. 

Gertie : Oh, Jack, what a wonderful man you are ! 
{Jack looks up.) 

Jack : Only common sense, Gertie. 

Gertie (continues) : What a perfectly wonderful 
man you are, so grand (Jack looks intently), so good, 
so handsome (Jack looks still more intently), so lov- 
able (Jack rushes over, takes her hands), and youVe 
such a dear ! 

Jack (slipping hack a hit, looking at her) : Gertie, 
I am going to marry you whether you will take me or 
not. Do you hear? 



56 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

Gertie : Yes, dear, I hear, and I second the motion. 

Jack : Sweetheart ! 

Gertie : I always intended to marry you. I never 
loved anybody else. But I wanted you to he sure also. 
I wanted you to start your work and I wanted a chance 
to finish mine. I did so much want to get that school 
made over, just as you have made over this farm, be- 
fore beginning this — the greatest, most glorious event 
of my life. 

Jack: This is Betty's and Billy's seventh anni- 
versary. We'll make it the beginning of a new glory 
for us also. Oh, Gertie ! 

{Enter Mrs. Wilson and Betty. Betty goes to Jack 
and Gertie.) 

Betty : Seven years ago today — and I am so happy ! 

Gertie : And this is the happiest day of my life. 

Jack: Not to be eclipsed — it's also the happiest 
day of mine. 

Betty (smiling) : At last, you old pokes — I knew 
all along. 

(Rastus behind Sam and Abagail and from with- 
out. ) 

Rastus: You'se bof, bof of you, march right in 
there. I cotched you. And I can prove it by that 
Holstein calf. (Sam and Abagail hand in hand, with 
shy, dropped faces, walk in.) 

Rastus: Now tell! (Sam looks to Abagail, Aba- 
gail to Sam, neither says anything. ) 

Rastus (to Sam and Abagail) : Well, I sees I'll 
have to speak fur ye. Mr. Jack, I'se a confession to 
make. I 'fess that these two peoples: to wits, Sam 



BETWEEN TWO LIVES 57 

Snipes and Abagail Jones, have this day 'fessed their 
dyin' devotion to each and t'other, and they axes your 
permission to tie up. 

(Sam and Abagail smile, twist their feet and sweetly 
look at each other.) 

Jack: Sam, is this so? {Sam just grins.) Aba- 
gail, is what Rastus says true? {She smiles just as 
Sam.) I see, your fervent words speak loud. Your 
request is granted. Blessings on you both ! 

{Enter Donald, Henry and Silas.) 

Henry: Why, what's all this mean? Wedding 
bells, I do declare! {He walks up to Sam and Aba- 
gail.) To think that this has been goin' on and I 
never suspected it! 

Betty: There's many things you don't suspect, 
father. I have the great and delightful privilege of 
announcing that John Wilson, Jr., alias Jack, and Ger- 
trude Bowers have this day contracted to marry also. 

Henry: Call that news, lady? Their eyes and 
their actions made that announcement long ago. Me 
and mother may be gettin' old, but we ain't infants 
when it comes to love makin', are we mother ? ( Walks 
over and puts his arm around her.) 

{Betty and Donald together, Sam and Abagail to 
rear at right. Rastus brings in Trueletta at rear to 
left. Henry and Sarah at left toward front, Donald 
and Betty toward front, even with Henry and Sarah. 
Silas at side, further forward. Jack and Gertie to- 
gether, slightly forward in center of line where are 
stationed Donald, Betty, Henry and Sarah.) 

Jack: There's nothing I need to say. It seems 
that you all know my affairs. And I don't care. I do 



58 BETWEEN TWO LIVES 

love Gertie, have loved her ever since she came here 
a flower and a song. She's to be a farmer's wife, 
though once she said she wouldn't. I am a farmer 
and proud of it. To me the promise of the present 
is a glorious agriculture for the future. 

(Curtain) 



Note. — If desired an old-fashioned dance may be 
introduced at the close of Act III, to be danced as the 
curtain goes down. Jack, Gertie, Donald and Betty 
form one square ; Sam, Abagail, Rastus and Trueletta 
a second. Silas calls out and H^nry and Sarah stand 
together, looking on, with Henry's arm about Sarah, 
both in pleasing sympathy and joy. 



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